A couple weeks back I was caring for a very high maintenance patient with a new colostomy. I had taken care of the patient three nights in a row. On the third night when the patient was more stable physically I asked our PCT to empty the patient's colostomy before the end of her shift at 11PM. She refused. She stated that it was not within her scope of practice. I let her know that other PCTs empty them and she rebutted that if it came off she couldn't put it back on. Because ultimately I am responsible, I emptied the costostomy. At our monthly night nurse unit meeting I asked if it was outside the scope if practice for PCT's. I was told it wasn't and it was taken down in our meeting minutes so it could be clarified later. The notes are then turned into our manager. I don't think any names were used, but I'm sure if the senerio was mentioned infront of the PCT she would recognize the situation as the one shared between us.
Friday my manager called me on the phone and asked me about the situation. She said, "Deana (name changed) says you won't change patients or empty colostomies because it makes you vomit." Admittedly poop is my weakness. Some people are grossed out by sputum or vomit. I went to school who was grossed out by eye drops. Poop is hard for me. Ocassionly, I do dry heave. I try to do everything I can to be discreet about it, I even carry a small bottle of body spray in my pocket for super Code Brown situations however it does happen that I dry heave. I have never, however, vomited because of it and I most certainly don't clean up my patients to avoid it! Many times this PCT has helped me clean patients in the 3 years I've been at this position.
I'm really bothered by this. I would like to confront the PCT in the presence of our manager just do the record can be set straight. I don't know if it will just start all this to snowball. Should I just leave it alone. Or should I schedule a meeting.
I'm concern about here accusation and feel I must do something.
